Isolation of lead-resistant Arthrobactor strain GQ-9 and its biosorption mechanism

Abstract

In this study, lead-resistant bacterium Arthrobacter sp. GQ-9 with a resistant capability to cadmium, zinc, and copper was isolated from a heavy metal polluted soil. Microcalorimetry analysis was applied to assess the strain's microbial activity under Pb(II) stress and suggested that GQ-9's microbial activities under Pb(II) stress were stronger than a non-resistant strain. Biosorption batch experiments revealed that the optimal condition for adsorption of Pb(II) by GQ-9 was pH 5.5, a biomass dosage of 1.2 g L⁻¹, and an initial Pb(II) concentration of 100 mg L⁻¹ with a maximum biosorption capacity of 17.56 mg g⁻¹.Adsorption-desorption experiments and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis were applied to elucidate the biosorption mechanisms. Adsorption-desorption analysis showed that GQ-9 cells could sequester 56.60% of the adsorbed Pb(II) ions on the cell wall. FTIR analysis suggested that hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, nitrile, and sulfhydryl groups and amide I, amide II bands on the GQ-9 cell wall participated in the complexation of Pb(II) ions. The present study illustrates that the lead-resistant bacteria GQ-9 has the potential for further development of an effective and ecofriendly adsorbent for heavy metal bioremediation.